Part 7 (1/2)

XV

IN DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

Don Rodrigo and his soldiers were surprised I dealt the one nearest o raised his hand to fire I knocked his gun from his hand The other soldier thrust ata severe scalp wound, which along with another thrust at ave him time to recover I struck the soldier in the face, and knocked hi at ht it doith terrific force on his head

By this ti reached a down grade of 160 feet to the mile The throttle ide open I kneould soon reach soine would jump the track I called to Manuel to shut off the stea with Don Rodrigo for life or death We had clinched one another I spoke once

”Recuerdo Felicita,” I hissed in his ear

He did not speak He was never a physical match for me, but at this th His face took on the awful look of desperation, that cogled to be free of ine rounded a sharp curve causing hier The side door of the coach was open For a , and then, with a shriek upon his lips, fell frole had lasted but a short tied my head and ar from severe blows The one felled by Manuel was still unconscious

We ithin threea sharp curve, when I looked back and exclai!” My blood alht, I determined to master the situation

I knew the two soldiers would not attempt to molest us They had learned a lesson I looked at er, if on time, would be at Pucacancha The troop train could not reach there for fifteen o slow for fear ofobstructions on the track

I reached Pucacancha, stopping far enough back to allow the passenger to pull up and back on the side track The siding had only one switch, chiefly used for ballast for the road bed I looked anxiously for the passenger Seconds dragged like hours Would she never come? There was a curve not far froer could not be seen until it almost reached it I listened I could hear the low tremulous noise of the rails, a puff of black smoke went up froine No 8 On seeing ineer came to a sudden stop I hurriedly told hi and let me pass, then pull out and follow overnment troops would surely be Our plans were quickly executed I deteret by the passenger, Manuel and I would desert the Arequipena, start her back with a full head of steam, and cause a collision No doubt there would have been loss of life, but it would have given an opportunity to escape by going on the passenger train

Dobbie, the engineer, succeeded well in backing into the clear Not seeing the troop train, I ran with a hammer and spike when he left the switch with the Arequipena ahead of hiht I hurriedly boarded the Arequipena and started, Dobbie backing up at fast as he could

There were several officers on the engine of the troop train, and when they saw us they coineer to increase his speed, with the result he could not check his train in tiine juround

We arrived at Paovernet weak froht, and the muscles were painful and swollen The people fro in their power to relieveThe soldier who had been struck with the shovel ca in the coach of the Arequipena, when the coovern the story to him, I turned over fourteen rifles, ten revolvers, and seven swords, all the cartridges and barrels of powder, together with the three soldiers who that coents I insisted on their hurrying to Su nohich to destroy the bridge However, they could post their troops should they arrive first and be in position to coweaker and weaker At last orders cao to Arequipa with the Arequipena The station raphed to have a doctor ready for me on my arrival It was nearly forty rade I had to give the engine up to Manuel, as the pain in my arm became so intense I had to lie down The station at Arequipa was crowded back to the street, the news having been telegraphed by the officer in coovern my name in Spanish

The people in Arequipa were loyal to the existing governer met me with the doctor His eyes were full of tears when he saw me I presented a horrible and bloody appearance, the wound inand s

I was carried from the coach by four ofprepared Cries of ”Viva Juancita!”

rent the air from the time I left the coach until the doctor requested silence Manuel was taken honorant of the revolution, but knowing by the de unusual had happened, realized that he had done sorouped about with tear-di at me with a most sympathetic expression on his Indian features, did not restrain his tears For days I tossed in pain and deliriuer caineer who had taken out the Arequipena to repair the telegraph, ca to surrender, but they intended to kill hi he was I Only the timely interposition of one who knew hiine back on the track after ed and as they were out of water, they gave up hope of winning their cause

The train bearing the government troops stopped ithin a few miles of Vincocaya, where they picked up the body of Don Rodrigo Garcia and buried it near the track He would have exulted over my death, but I cannot say that I felt any satisfaction because he was dead It only brought sad memories of the past

XVI

THE SCREAMING WINDS OF NIGHT